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Who Say Jah No Dread: The Classic Augustus Pablo Sessions 1974-75 (RAS, 1992) Former lead singer of the pre-"Bad Boys" Inner Circle, Jacob Miller's sessions with Augustus Pablo produced the definitive dub tune "King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown," a song that, although it features only bits and pieces of Miller's echoing voice, gives a good idea of its power and appeal. The song of which "King Tubby" is a dub, "Baby I Love You So," is likewise excellent, but the dub reveals the genius of Pablo's, with his trademark melodica and the now standard reverbs and fades adding an otherworldly feel. In essence, this collection has only 6 different songs on it -- each with a dub -- so you have to make the most of each. Miller tries to do this by providing the outstandingly funky, laid-back "Keep on Knocking," as well as the emotional "False Rasta" and the decent title track. The dubs, of course, are solid -- each with Pablo's trademark sound -- but if you don't like the song (blasphemer!), chances are you won't care much for the dub. Still, odds are you'll like this short but sweet set. |
| Track Listing 1. Keep on Knocking 2. Knocking Version 3. False Rasta 4. Hungry Town Scanc 5. Baby I Love You So 6. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown 7. Who Say Jah No Dread 8. Jah Dread 9. Each One Teach One 10. Each One Teach One Version 11. Girl Name Pat 12. Girl Name Pat Version |
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Jacob Miller & The Inner Circle Band & Augustus Pablo (Esoldun, 1992)
Miller again teams with producer Augustus Pablo, as well as with his former band mates, in this compilation of tracks that create a nice overall sound, despite not having great substance. The biggest hit on this album (for Miller, that is) is "Forward Jah Jah Children," a somewhat overrated ditty, though it has an appealing '70s guitar and organ sound. The rest of the good material here comes disappointingly in the form of cover songs. Miller, though having silky, likeable voice, does little with these tunes to make them either better than or distinctive from the originals. Easily his best effort is "Curfew," a take on Bob Marley's "Burnin' and Lootin'." Not nearly as inspired are the remakes "Have Some Mercy," Dennis Brown's "Westbound Train," Junior Byles' "Curly Locks," Johnny Clarke's "None Shall Escape the Judgement," and The Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New." Aside from "Curfew," the most enjoyable song here is probably "Ala-Ala-Bama," which may or may not be a remake, but it worked for me because I hadn't heard it before. Augustus Pablo throws in a few dubs, but they're as uninspired as Miller's tunes.
| Track Listing 1. Curfew 2. Forward Jah Jah Children 3. Ala-Ala-Bama 4. Eli's Move 5. Have Some Mercy 6. Westbound Train 7. Curly Locks 8. Curly Locks Dub 9. All Night Till Daylight 10. Fire a Go Burn 11. Gun Trade 12. Meet Me Tonight 13. None Shall Escape the Judgment 14. You Can Handle It 15. You Make Me Feel Brand New |
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